Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B33/00—Sealing or packing boreholes or wells
  • E21B33/02—Surface sealing or packing
  • E21B33/03—Well heads; Setting-up thereof
  • E21B33/035—Well heads; Setting-up thereof specially adapted for underwater installations
  • E21B33/038—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser
  • E21B33/0385—Connectors used on well heads, e.g. for connecting blow-out preventer and riser electrical connectors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16L37/00—Couplings of the quick-acting type
  • F16L37/002—Couplings of the quick-acting type which can be controlled at a distance

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for inter ⁇ connecting couplings below water in a releasable way and a connecting device adapted to carry out this method.
• a “coupling” is a joinable, but also disjoinable trans ⁇ mission link and may for instance comprise an electric coupl- ing, an optical coupling or an hydraulic coupling, in de ⁇ pendence on which medium, which kind of energy or signal the transmission link handles.
• a coupling comprises at least two cooperating "coupling parts”.
• a “mounting” is a purely mechanical supporting structur for a coupling. Such a mounting may comprise a house, a protecting and/or a joining structur for two coupling parts.
• each mounting part When the mounting is in two parts, each mounting part usually is built together with a corresponding coupling part. And when the mounting parts are put together to give a comp- lete mounting, the corresponding coupling parts usually will be automatically brought into cooperating positions, and be kept together and protected in such positions.
• connection is used about a completely assem ⁇ bled, however, disjoinable unit, comprising both at least one coupling and at least one mounting.
• a connection com ⁇ prises normally two connection parts each comprising a com ⁇ bination of at least one coupling part and a corresponding mounting part.
• Each connection may possibly comprise a plurality of similar or different couplings and one or more mountings.
• ROV-units remotely operated vehicles
• ROV-units are equipped with video cameras, propellers to move the ROV in different directions and remotely operated catchers or man ⁇ ipulators, which again may be equipped with different kinds of tools.
• ROV-units are controlled and supervised for instance from a operators room in a surface vessel or in a platform, and has among other things been used in connection with supervising pipe and cable installations below water. So far the ROV-units have seldom been used for interconnect ⁇ ing couplings below water as the known coupling devices have required many and complicated movements during the mounting process. In those cases where attempts with an ROV have been made, specifically designed tools have been arranged on the ROV to perform the operations.
• the main object of the present invention is to provide a method and a connecting device which makes it possible to perform connection and disconnection of a coupling or a transmission below water, only by means of one (or more) standard equipped ROV-unit(s) , but without divers or speci ⁇ ally designed tools.
• Another object is to find a cost reducing method and a cost reducing device at the same time as the safety of all personel is enhanced during operation.
• a further object is to provide an ROV-handling and ROV- operation of the simplest possible kind, for instance without use of specifically designed equipment to obtain safe enter ⁇ ing of the parts of the connection when a coupling is to be established.
• a further object is to provide simple mechanisms, not including small components in the connecting devices to enhance the reliability and make long-term or permanent use below water possible.
• a further object is to provide a connecting device where a tightening or an adjusting movement may be undertaken after the mounting process to obtain or optimize the transmission.
• a further object is to provide a connecting device which leads to simple, visual confirmation of whether the coupling is completed and ready for operation.
• Still a further object is to provide a connecting device without any unnecessary protruding parts into which cables and wires may be entangled.
• mounting mechanisms which may be combined with con ⁇ ventional couplings of different types, especially with earlier known electrical and hydraulical couplings.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a connecting device according to the present invention used in a submarine installation
• Fig. 2 illustrates a simple connecting device according to the present invention, ready assembled and partly in section, the mounting parts being shown most clearly
• Fig. 3 illustrates an example of the lower mounting part of the connection in Fig. 2,
• FIG. 4 illustrates the mounting part in Fig. 3 seen from above
• Figs. 5 illustrate a different embodiment of the connecting device according to the invention, where the coupl ⁇ ing is not rotated together with the mounting dur ⁇ ing the joining process
• Fig. 7 illustrates a detail of the connecting device ac ⁇ cording to Figs. 5 and 6
• Fig. 8 illustrates a connecting device provided with a tightening or adjusting device 50, in this specific embodiment shown with an hydraulic coupling
• Fig. 9 shows how plural couplings may be arranged within a common, non-circular mounting, and
• Fig. 10 illustrates a mounting which is locked during a linear transition only.
• the connections which are to be established may comprise couplings which in their turn may be of similar or different types. They may for instance comprise electrical power connections, electric signaling connections, hydraulic connections, pneumatic connections and/or optical connections, and these connections may trans ⁇ fer power and/or controlling signals. A combination of two or more such types of connections may also be included. When a connection is mentioned below, this may also include a group of connections of the same or of different kinds.
• this coupling device may comprise one or more conventional, earlier known coupling elements having similar or different functions, so that for instance several electric and/or hydraulic coupling elements may be built into the same mounting part, and the elements used may be arranged coaxially or laterally.
• Fig. 1 an inserting or pulling-in ramp 1 is shown, for instance arranged on a submarine production unit 2 , 2 ' for instance intended for production of hydrocarbons.
• a cable guideance 4 having an entering portion 5 is arranged, and in this cable guide 4, initially covered by a not shown lid which may be removed, possibly also by an ROV, before or after the entering process, a terminating portion of the cable 3 is shown, provided with a cable entering terminal head 6.
• the entering of the cable end 3 in the guide 4 may for instance also be obtained by means of an ROV-unit (not shown) for instance by means of a guiding line and using the poles 12 for the pulling-in tool.
• each single mounting part 8 will be kept securely in a predeter ⁇ mined position within narrow tolerances.
• the very couplings are, as already mentioned, preferrably electric or hydraulic couplings, but may also comprise pneumatic and/or optical connectors, in dependence of the equipment which is to be connected.
• the cable 3 may therefore be an umbilical or multi-function cable which may comprise the required and possibly different connections, or it may be a conventional cable including one kind of connec ⁇ tions only.
• each of the mounting parts 7 arranged on the parking ramp 9 is equipped with a handle 10 designed to be operated by an ROV-unit. This will be more clearly explained below.
• the operator who is situated in a control room for instance aboard a platform, may grab the handle 10 of the mounting part 7 for one of the (male) plugs in its parked position, lift the corresponding plug from its parking site, move it towards and above the corresponding mounting part 8 of the associated (female) plug on the cable end 3, and press the mounting parts 7 and 8 together.
• these parts now are locked together, either by a simple snap-action after a simple linear movement or, when a bayonet socket device is used, after a linear movement followed by a turning or rotating movement as explained below.
• the central coupling device is rotated together with the outer mounting device, in particular when a bayonet socket design is used.
• the central mounting part remains quiet even when the outer mounting device is turned around.
• the present invention relates both to the principle according to which the very equipment is organized to be handled and controlled by an ROV, and to the connecting device which make this operation possible.
• the coupling device may in addi ⁇ tion be provided with an adjusting/tightening device 50 (Fig. 8) .
• This adjusting device 50 may be arranged in such a manner that it normally is protected by the handle 10.
• the handle 10 therefore advantageously may be pivoted at 52, so that it may be laid down and the adjustment device 50 accordingly is exposed. This feature is also important to reduce the risk that cables and wires should be caught by protruding ele ⁇ ments.
• the ROV may bend the handle 10 downwards so that the adjustment device 50 becomes avail ⁇ able, and then the adjustment device 50 may be turned by an associated, simple manipulator on the ROV-unit till optimal contact is obtained.
• the adjust- ment device 50 when the mounting is of hydraulic or pneu ⁇ matic type, may affect one or more valve elements 51, which if necessary may be spring biased, arranged in one or both mounting devices, thereby barring all flowing-through until the valve elements, by means of the adjustment device 50, are again moved to their open position.
• the adjustment device 50 may be used for a more exact setting of the positions of elements in an optical joint in a possible optical transmission.
• FIG. 2 a simple embodiment of a jointed plug connec- tion according to the present invention is shown, partly in section, with certain details being e phazised. So far it is assumed that the internal coupling rotates together with the surrounding mounting. A different embodiment having a firmly orientated coupling in a turnable mounting will be more specifically described later.
• the active coupling arranged centrally in the circular mounting is rotational symmetric, and for instance may consist of an electric plug connection having spring biased contact ele ⁇ ments.
• the mechanical connection or the mount ⁇ ing of the plug is primarily shown, and also the handle 10 which makes the plug connection viable for ROV operation.
• Fig. 2 one mounting part 15 is shown, having the shape of a female plug with a substantially cylindrical shape and provided with a flange 13 for fastening to the recess on the cable end 3 (Fig. 1) .
• This mounting part 15 is shown alone and uncovered in Fig. 3, and the mounting part 15 is as shown provided with a milled out recess 16.
• the recess 16 runs substantially axially along the mounting part 15, how ⁇ ever a widening portion 17 is provided at the upper end of the mounting part to enlighten entering of the complementary mounting part 19, and close to the lower part of the recess 16 it extends into a tangentially directed slot 14 ending in a small, milled out notch 18 extending backwards in same direction as the groove 16.
• the complete recess 16, 17, 14, 18 is shaped as a J or possibly an inverted J.
• At least one further, identical J-shaped recess is provided in the mounting part 15, and several J-shaped recesses may be pro ⁇ vided with regular or irregular intervals along the perimeter of the mounting parts.
• the complementary shaped mounting part 19 is equipped with radially locking knobs or lugs 20 turning towards the centre, being complementary designed related to the locking recess 16, both when shape and size is considered, so that they easily may enter the recesses 17, along its axial part 16, pass through the tangentially directed recess 14 quite down to the little locking notch 18, as the mounting parts 19 and 15 are pressed together and then turned a suitable angle, for instance 45° as assumed on Fig. 4.
• the spring 21 shall, as shown on Fig. 2, tend to force the two mounting parts apart, and when the parts are turned so that the locking lugs 20 enter the locking notches 18 the spring 21 maintains the connection in this position.
• the spring 21 also maintains a relatively high contact pressure, which is essential to obtain a reliable and acceptable connection.
• the handle 10 is fastened to one of the mounting parts 19 (the upper one) , and its shape corresponds to that of the catchers of the ROV-unit.
• the shape shown in the figures is only ment to be an example.
• Fig. 5 the secured, lower mounting part 25, also designated the receiving sleeve 25, is shown alone, mounted to the base 26 by means of a flange 13.
• the receiving sleeve 25 is provided with an internal, secured, i.e. not turnable, coupling member 27, illustrated only as an axially, cylindri ⁇ cal opening provided with a longitudinal guiding recess 28 along one of its sides.
• Fig. 5 also shows the receiving sleeve 25 seen from the end and the upper part of the recess 25 seen from within the opening.
• the upper connecting part 30 includ ⁇ ing its mounting part 19 and the inner coupling part as an interconnecting pin 31 equipped with a guiding knob 32 fitt ⁇ ing into the guiding recess 28 in the receiving sleeve 25.
• the further connection from the upper connecting part 30 is obtained via the cable 33 shown in the upper part of Fig. 6. Only the lower part of the ROV handle 10 is shown.
• Fig. 5 and 6 illustrate the lower terminal 34 of the firm installation 1, a guiding cone 29 to enhance the enter ⁇ ing of the connection pin 31 in the coupling member 27, and a locking screw 35 used to secure the upper connection part 30 in a rotated and completely mounted position.
• connection is established as the connection pin 31 is entering the guiding cone 29 (in receiving sleeve 25) and then is rotated so that the quiding knob 32 is entering the recess 28 for the guiding knob.
• the coupling pin 31 is then depressed until the outer sleeve 19 contacts the receiving sleeve 25.
• the outer sleeve 19 is then rotated around the coupling pin 31 until the knobs on the inner side of the outer sleeve is entering the J-shaped slots (just in the same manner as for connecting parts without orientation, not shown in detail here) .
• the connection is then further depressed axially until it reach the bottom.
• the outer sleeve 19 then is rotated to engage the horisontal part 14 of the J-shaped slot and is locked.
• the set screw 35 in the outer sleeve 19 enters a bore made in the coupling part 31) .
• an indicating slot 36 may be used, provided with a corresponding indicating boss 37 which possibly may be represented by the set screw 35, ar ⁇ ranged in one of the mounting parts 19 (the upper) , as as- sumed in Fig. 7. This solution gives a possibility for visual confirmation that the connecting device is brought into a completely locked position.
• the adjustment device 50 which more clearly are shown in Fig. 8.
• the adjustment device is made available so that it may be operated from the outside.
• One of the operating arms on the ROV-unit may now be equipped with an oscillating tool adapted to the adjusting device 50, and this may be turned or adjusted to effect the active coupling in the centre of the connecting device.
• this may, when a hydraulic or pneumatic coupling is considered, for instance be represented by at least one ball valve 51 which normally is closed due to mechanical biasing or due to the pressure conditions within the connection, but is now forced to an open position by means of the adjustment device 50.
• the connection may be an optical one for fiber optical cables, and then the adjustment device 50 may be used to turn an excentric coupling link until optimal connection is obtained.
• each single connecting device which are operated by means of a single handle 10 may include several couplings of similar or different types.
• the connecting device thus may comprise several similar or several different coupling ele- ments.
• the central coupling must not be turned together with the mounting, as explained above.
• the outer, mechanical mounting part must be turned to lock the coupling.
• the outer "locking rings" or mounting parts provided with some kind of bayonet socket not necessarily have to be circular.
• the locking sockets or the outer mounting parts may also, and in particular when several coupling elements are gathered in each connector, comprise a flexible but strong band 56 which may be displaced on a firm base, instead of a cylindrical ring having locking knobs.
• a solution is as ⁇ sumed in Fig. 9.
• the "locking ring” here is replaced by a “collar” or a locking band 56.
• Such a flexible "collar” 56 may be shifted laterally (as indicated by the arrows 57) and is thereby locked onto a non-circular cylinder 58 having corresponding J-shaped locking slots 16.
• To transfer forces from the handle 10 to the flexible band 56 it is desirable that the handle 10 acts on two diametrically opposite points of the flexible collar 56, as assumed on Fig. 9. This solu- tion corresponds closely to the solution already given in Fig. 2.
• connection device or its mounting may be provided with snap-on members 40 which snaps into place after a linear, axial compressing of the two connecting parts, i.e. without any following rotation.
• This solution is shown in Fig. 10.
• the locking device here comprises locking members 40 being connected to the handle 10 and corresponding locking members 41 being arranged on the fixedly mounted connecting part 15, the locking members being arranged so that when the handle 10 is depressed axially onto the movable connecting part 15, the connection snaps into action, while a movement perpendiculary to the axial direction of the connection, for instance obtained by pressing the two parts of the handle shown in Fig. 10 towards each other, again releases the locking members from their engaged position.
• the bending down ope- ration of the ROV handle 10 may be combined with the tighten ⁇ ing or adjusting process, so that it is not necessary to introduce any additional movement to obtain the desired tightening or adjustment of the connection.

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• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
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• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
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• Mutual Connection Of Rods And Tubes (AREA)

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Cited By (6)

Citations (4)

• 1991
  • 1991-05-13 NO NO91911838A patent/NO911838L/no unknown
• 1992
  • 1992-05-11 WO PCT/NO1992/000089 patent/WO1992020948A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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